Best OS for old PC just for movies?

[Fouchey]

I have a really old PC- HP 7975
I believe it's from 2001. I'm looking to use it only for watching movies. Probably won't even have an Internet connection. Can't remember the specs on it but I would guess it only has 512MB of ram. I have. Xubuntu on it currently, it still runs a little slow but the worst part is videos in VLC lag really bad, I tried adjusting some of the settings with no success. Could this PC be that bad to not even be able to play movies?

 

[diazalon]

I have a really old PC- HP 7975
I believe it's from 2001. I'm looking to use it only for watching movies. Probably won't even have an Internet connection. Can't remember the specs on it but I would guess it only has 512MB of ram. I have. Xubuntu on it currently, it still runs a little slow but the worst part is videos in VLC lag really bad, I tried adjusting some of the settings with no success. Could this PC be that bad to not even be able to play movies?

I would think XMBC

 

[RazerZ]

Maybe Windows 95? I'd say its better getting is used system around $50 on criagslist.

 

[mightymaxio]

More than likely that has a single core pentium 3 cpu and that would be severely limiting the performance on movies. You could probably play 240p videos from youtube but thats about it with that processor. You have to remember back in those days machines didn't even have the capability to play DVD's until about 2002-2005 when they became more mainstream. I also don't think that computer has 512mb of ram because that was more mainstream in 2003-2004 to have that much memory. I would guess you have about 128-256 max ram in a 2001 machine.

Scrap it and recycle it in my honest opinion. Buy a used 2005+ computer with at least a dual core/core2duo/amd dual core for under $40 and you should be good.

 

[spankmon]

Xubuntu is probably the best option. This is how I set up my old HP which is very similar to yours.... go to system settings ^ window manager tweaks ^ and in the last tab find the compositor and turn it off. Then in VLC settings go to the video settings and turn off hardware acceleration.

 

[Fouchey]

Xubuntu is probably the best option. This is how I set up my old HP which is very similar to yours.... go to system settings ^ window manager tweaks ^ and in the last tab find the compositor and turn it off. Then in VLC settings go to the video settings and turn off hardware acceleration.

Thanks for the help everyone, I'll try this and let you know how it works!

Update: After turning off compositor videos ran perfect. Thanks for the help!